Gov. Jerry Brown launched his latest statewide swing Monday in San Diego to support his tax initiative for schools, Proposition 30.

The Democratic governor appeared at a rally at Hoover High School to urge voters on Tuesday to pass the measure, which would raise sales tax a quarter-cent on the dollar for four years and income taxes on people earning $250,000 or more annually for seven years.

The initiative would raise about $6 billion a year, mostly for schools, but also for some local government programs. The current state budget includes a mechanism that would cut about $5.5 billion from K-12 and community colleges if the measure is defeated.

Schools have faced cuts in recent years due to multi-billion state budget deficits.

"I’ve been across California and back in the recent weeks – joining students, teachers, parents, and business leaders who know we can’t keep cutting our schools and build a strong economy for California’s future," Brown said in a statement released before the rally.

Opponents of Proposition 30 say the state needs to get its fiscal house in order before any more taxes are raised. They further argue that the state should give local districts and schools more control over the state money they get and be allowed to institute reforms.

Ron Nehring, former chairman of the California and San Diego Republican parties, added that the state can ill afford to raise taxes during these shaky economic times.

In a television interview at Hoover High while awaiting the governor's appearance, Nehring said the tax increases would make it "more difficult to create jobs in California."